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Unless they are especially valuable or designed to be returned, they aren't "brought back". They simply fall back as their orbit slows relative to the earth due to drag from gravity, magnetic fields, dust and gas. To keep a satellite in orbit permanently it would have to be moved up periodically (some can do this on their own).
Sometimes satellites run out of the fuel they need to have their orbits adjusted to keep them in the right place. Geostationary satellites need to be moved every two weeks.
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JordanOld satellites are brought back from space to avoid them becoming space debris that poses a risk of colliding with other operational satellites or spacecraft. By safely deorbiting and disposing of old satellites, it helps in reducing the amount of space debris in orbit around the Earth.
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What does the word space debris mean?
Space debris refers to man-made objects in orbit around Earth that no longer serve a useful purpose. These objects can include old satellites, rocket stages, and fragments from spacecraft collisions. Space debris poses a risk to operational satellites and spacecraft in orbit.
How many satallite are in space?
There are thousands of satellites currently in space, used for various purposes such as communication, weather monitoring, navigation, and scientific research. The exact number can fluctuate as new satellites are launched and old ones are decommissioned.
How does space junk get in space?
Space junk is usually the result of human-made objects that are no longer operational or have been discarded in space. This includes defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, fragments from collisions, and debris from missions. Over time, these objects can collide with each other, creating more debris and increasing the amount of space junk in orbit.
What happens to the old satellites?
Old satellites either remain in orbit as space debris, eventually falling back to Earth and burning up in the atmosphere, or are intentionally deorbited and moved to a "graveyard" orbit to reduce the risk of collision with operational satellites. Some may also be repositioned for alternative uses or repurposed for different missions.
What are examples of space junk?
Space junk refers to debris in space that is no longer functional and poses a risk to operational spacecraft. Examples include defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, fragments from collisions, and discarded equipment from space missions. These pieces of debris can range in size from large objects like old satellites to tiny flecks of paint.
